Holiday storm timeline: Rain, snow and strong winds on tap for Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes

Sunday, December 21, 2014, 7:07 PM - By now, most of you know that a stormy Christmas is upon the eastern half of the country. While the system is yet to be sampled by the North American observation network, the following timeline can help those in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes prepare for what's to come.

DECEMBER 22 

• ONTARIO: Light snow will be ongoing across Ontario Dec. 22 and through the next day due to a weak decaying low ahead of the main low on Christmas Eve. 

DECEMBER 23 

• ONTARIO: Brief period of light snow and slight risk of some freezing rain appears possible across southern/eastern/central Ontario before changing over to rain in the afternoon. Eastern Ontario could see slightly longer period of snow or freezing rain, but will be mainly rain by the evening. 
• QUEBEC: Some light snow with the risk of some freezing rain pushes in the evening of the 23rd which will be all rain through the overnight/early morning of Christmas Eve.

CHRISTMAS EVE

• ONTARIO: Rain continues for Christmas Eve across much of Ontario with the rain/snow line setting up near the Wawa to Kapuskasing area. Within the transition area some freezing rain is possible as well. 
• QUEBEC: Areas near Québec City could see some snow or freezing rain into Christmas Eve morning but will change over to mainly rain through the day. Winds will become rather significant through the afternoon and evening on Christmas Eve with gusts near 70-90 km/h possible mainly through the Eastern Townships and up along the St. Lawrence into the Québec City area. The significant winds will taper off for Christmas Day but still be breezy.

OVERNIGHT INTO CHRISTMAS DAY 

• ONTARIO SNOW: Overnight Christmas Eve, rain will begin to change over to rain/snow and snow across much of Ontario with the GTA changing over to rain/snow closer to Christmas morning. The exception will be roughly along and north of the Highway 7/407 corridor in the GTA will likely be snow by Christmas morning. Eastern Ontario will change over to rain/snow or snow through the day Christmas. Preliminary thoughts are that the Snow Belt regions could have accumulating snow by Christmas morning 
• QUEBEC SNOW: Snow is likely for the Eastern Townships where some minor accumulations are possible. Near Québec City some significant accumulations are possible through Christmas Day. 
• WINDS: Winds will be more of an issue now for Christmas day. Gusty westerly winds are expected with preliminary forecasts showing wind gusts near 60-80 km/h possible and 70-90 km/h possible for Niagara Region. In Quebec, meanwhile, the significant winds will taper off for Christmas Day but it will still be breezy.

SEE ALSO: Windy Christmas storm forecast confirmed

CHRISTMAS NIGHT 

• ONTARIO: Things will gradually taper off Christmas night (winds and snow) with just some weak lake effect possible around the Huron/Georgian Bay shores.
• QUEBEC: Stormy conditions will continue through the overnight. 

BOXING DAY 

• ONTARIO: Low pushing in for Boxing Day night could bring another bout and messy weather for the GTA with accumulating snow through the Snow Belt regions and Cottage Country. 
• QUEBEC: Things will taper off through Boxing Day morning.

MARITIMES

Wind and heavy rain will be the main factors here with a freezing rain potential for northern New Brunswick. Rain, at times heavy, will push into Nova Scotia/New Brunswick late overnight/early Christmas morning and into P.E.I Christmas morning. A period of freezing rain is possible for northern New Brunswick early Christmas morning which should change over to all rain mid-morning. Rain continues through Christmas day and should be gone for the most part by Boxing Day morning with just some lingering showers. Strong southerly winds will push across the Maritimes at the same time. Initial forecasters show the potential for wind gusts near 70-100 km/h through Christmas day.

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH: The Science Behind Wind

With files from Brad Rousseau